Oil burner



Dec. 8, 1942.

R. MAHLER I OIL BURNER Filed May 9, 1940 INVENTOR IiOEEAT MflLL/I A! ATTORNE Patented Dec. 8, 1942 OIL BURNER Robert Mahler, New York, N. Y.; now by judicial change of name to Robert Mallan Application'May 9, 1940, Serial No. 334,130

9 Claims.

This invention relates to oil burners for use in conjunction with various types and kinds of heating apparatus, and particularly in combination with steam boilers; and the object of the invention is to provide a burner of the class described having. automatically actuated means controlling the admission of steam to the nozzle to produce a more perfect combustible mixture and in producing a burner operating with a high degree of efliciency while at the same time materially reducing the fuel consumption; a further object being to provide means to automatically actuate the fuel oil needle valve in maintaining a balanced relationship in conjunction with the automatic control of the steam supply, means being provided to adjust relative relationship of the needle valve and steam control valve; a further.

object being to provide means adjusting the position of the burner nozzle in controlling and regulating the discharge of atomized fuel into the fire box of the boiler; a still further object being to provide a burner of the class described having a'minimum number of parts of simple construction and assemblage, thereby materially reducing the cost of manufacturing burners of the type and kind under consideration; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists in a burner of the class and for the purpose specified, which is constructed as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suit able reference characters.

The accompanying drawing illustrates somewhat diagrammatically alongitudinal sectional view through a burner made according to my invention.

In the drawing, I represents a part of the wall structure of a furnace, boiler or other apparatus in conjunction with which my improved burner is mounted. The burner comprises a main casing portion 2 having a cylindrical housing 3 forming the mixing chamber 4 where the air is mixed with the fuel. The housing 3 has a series of large circumferential ports controlled by an adjustable ring shutter 6 rotatable on said housing. Cen trally of the casing 2 is an externally threaded tubular bearing 1 which projects into the cham-' her 4 and on which is adjustably mounteda nozzle 8. The nozzle has an enlarged flange portion 9 having radial apertures III to receive a tool passed through one of the apertures 5 in rotatend of the burner whereby fuel may be atomized ranged in the cylinder and the body 20;

ably adjusting said nozzle. A lock nut II is also employed to retain the nozzle in different positions of adjustment.

On the outer side of the casing 2 in alinement with the bearing 1 is formed an annular steam chamber I2. Coupled with said part of the casing is an elongated tubular member I3 bolted to the casing at [4 and having a part I5 which extends into and restricts the capacity of the steam chamber I2. The member I3 has a reduced extension I6 which extends through the bearing I and terminates in a conical discharge end II fitting within the nozzle 8 forming a steam discharge passage I8, the discharge end of which is controlled by adjustment of the nozzle as will be apparent. The bore of the tubular bearing I is provided with circumferentially spaced grooves I9 by which steam may pass through the chamber I2 to the passage I8.

The casing 2 has an enlarged body portion 20 having a bore 2| which opens into the chamber l2 and communicates at its outer end with a steam admission pipe 22 coupled with the enlargement 20. The body 20 has an angularly extending boss 23 in connection. with which is mounted atube or cylinder 24. The inner end of the cylinder 24 engages a steam packing 25 to form a seat around a plunger valve 26 ar- The valve 26 is adapted to transverse or cross the port 2| to cut off supply of steam to the chamber I2, as well as to regulate the flow of steam into said chamber.

Mounted in the end of the cylinder 24 is a tubular plug 21 in which is adjustably supported a stop nut 28 engaging the end of the valve 26 to check outward or opening movement thereof by the spring 29 which operates upon the collar 3:] of said valve. The valve rod 26 has a reduced protruding pin end 3| which projects through the nut 28 for purposes later described.

Mounted in the tubular member I3 is an elongated needle valve 32, the inner end of which terminates in a conical valve head 33 which moves relatively to the conical end ll of the member I3 in controlling and regulating the discharge of oil through the nozzle end of said member. The needle valve 32 has a long reduced shank portion 34 having a plurality of elongated radial ribs 35 for guiding the needle in the reduced extension I6 of the member I3. The outer end portion of the needle valve has a collar 36 against which a spring 31 operates in supporting the reduced and projecting pin end 38 of the valve in engagement with the adjustable screw 39 mounted in a'swlnging plate or arm 40. The pin end 38 operates in a detachable cap All mounted on the member I3 which supports a bellows-type gland 42 in the member, the gland being supported upon the collar portion 36 of the valve 3|. The gland 42 is to form a seal for I the fuel oil which will compensate for the movement imparted to the needle valve as will be apparent. A fuel oil supply pipe 43 is coupled with the member I3 and opens into the chamber of said member inwardly of the collar 36 whereby fuel oil can pass freely into the reduced portion I6 of the member I3 and out through the nozzle end thereof, being controlled by the valve end 33, as described.

It will be understood thatin operating my improved bumer, both the needle valve 32 and the steam valve 26 may be manually controlled. However, in certain types of installations an automatic control of these valves is desirable, and for this purpose I provide a control unit comprising a plate 44 supported in connection with the end wall of the housing 3 of the burner by a number of ribs 85 joining a ring segment tit. The latter is bolted to the casing as indicated. On one of the ribs 45 is pivoted the arm to at 41. Adjustably supported in the plate 44 is a tubular plug 48 carrying on its inner surface a cam 49. Rotatably-mounted in the plug is a short shaft 56 having on its inner end a collar having an outwardly extending pin part 52 for operative engagement with the surface of the cam 49, and at'its inner end a central pin part 53 for engagement with the arm all. To the outer end of the shaft 56 is secured a bar 54 carrying an extending arm 65, to the end of which a wire or cable 56 is attached. The end of the cable is coupled with any type or kind of control device; for example a steam pressure regulator of the boiler whereby in the operation of the device the arm 55 will be moved upwardly which will rotate the collar or operating element over the cam, advancing said element to the left, as seen in the drawing, thus swinging the arm 40 to the left to actuate the valves 26 and 32.

At this time it will be understood that the adjustment of the screw 39 in the arm 40 will manually regulate the normal positioning of the needle valve in controlling the feed of oil to the nozzle end of the burner. The aforesaid movement will operate to cut down the oil supply or to entirely shut off the supply depending upon the degree of movement imparted to the element 5|.

Adjustably supported in the plate 44 is a screw 51, in the inner forked end of which is pivoted at 58, a pawl 59. Mounted in the pawl 59 is a manually adjustable screw 60 arranged in alinement with thepin end 3| of the steam valve 26. In adjusting the position of the parts, the screw 60 may be disposed normally in spaced relation to the pin 3|. However, the relationship of the screw adjustment will depend largely upon the various installations of the burner. In other words, in some instances the valve 26 may be supported normally by the nut 28 in a half-closed position, or in a fully opened position and greater or less spacing may be provided between the screw 66 and pin 3|, and in some instances no spacing whatever will be provided between these parts.

It will be apparent that the arm 40 is supported in constant engagement with the pin end 53 of the element 5| by the spring 31, thereby maintaining constant engagement between the screw 39 and the end 38 of the needle-valve.- Any means may be provided for adiustably supporting the screws 39 and 60 and in controlling the simultaneous operation thereof.

It will be understood that in some instances during the operation of the burner, the steam supply will be entirely shut off, and it is preferred that in most instances the needle valve be closed before the steam valve is entirely closed.

It will be understood that in the operation of the burner, the presence of steam around the fuel oil delivery tube I6 will operate to pre-heat the oil before discharging the same through the nozzle end of the burner, and the steam discharged through the nozzle will mix in spraylike fashion with the oil, forming in conjunction with the air introduced into the mixing chamber, a combustible mixture which from practical experience and tests, has shown high degree of efficiency at extremely low operating costs. I have also found from experience that by using the enlarged steam chamber I2, the operation of the burner becomes relatively silent.

It will appear from the drawing that a very simple and economical form of burner construction is provided and one having a minimum number of parts. All adjustments which are necessary in initially regulating the burner for proper operation are easily made, and furthermore repairs and alterations may be made without difficulty, it being understood that the entire nozzle construction may be detached from the casing without disturbing the steam valve and its associated parts, excepting that the bracket plate 44 must of course be removed. It will further be understood that the parts may be taken apart and reassembled without disturbing any previous adjustments made in the parts so as to not interfere with proper burner functioning after accurate adjustments have been made. From time to time the nozzle 3 may be detached for repair or replacement without in any way effecting the other parts of the burner. Furthermore, adjustment of the nozzle 8 with respect to the nozzle discharge I! of the oil tube I6 may be quickly and easily made.

With my improved burned construction, it will be apparent that the member I3 when coupled with the casing 2 forms a fixed seal for the steam chamber; the oil tube I6 maintaining a fixed relationship in the bore of the hearing I. The passages I9 may be said to form restricted steam passages controlling communication between the chamber I2 and the discharge passage I8. In fact, in view of the mounting which is provided, a complete annular passage at I9 may be provided, and the so-called bearing 1 would then simply form a restricted tubular extension from the steam chamber. In other words, it will appear that the nozzle 8 and conical end 33 of the needle valve are both adiustable relatively to the fixed tapered nozzle I'I. By virtue of these structural features, the burner becomes materially simplified.

In some instances, it is desirable to provide means for limiting the closing movement of the valves 26 and 33 so as to prevent these valves from completely shutting off the supply of steam and oil. To this end, I provide an adjustable stop screw 6| mounted in an extending arm 62 on one of the ribs 45. The screw 6| will limit or check swinging movement of the arm 40 and thus check the closing movement of the valves claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A burner of the class described comprising a casing having an enlarged housing at one end forming a mixing chamber, an oil supply tube mounted in the casing, said tube having a contracted discharge end disposed in said mixing chamber, a needle valve mounted in said tube controlling the discharge of fuel oil therethrough, an independently adjustable nozzle encircling the discharge end of said tube and forming an annular discharge passage around said tube, means adjusting said needle valve into different positions, means admitting steam to said casing around said tube and directing the same to said last named passage to mix steam with the fuel oil at the discharge of said nozzle, a valve controlling the supply of steam to said passage, means for manually adjusting said valve in predetermined relation to the adjustment of said needle valve in controlling normal operation of the burner, and means independent of and in spaced relation to said oil supply tube for simultaneously moving the steam valve and said needle valve into closed positions in controlling supply of steam and oil to the discharge of said nozzle.

2. A burner of the class described comprising a casing, a fuel oil supply tube, a needle valve controlling discharge of oil through one end of said tube, means adjusting the needle valve into different positions in said tube, a nozzle encircling the discharge end of the oil tube, means for admitting steam around said tube and into said nozzle, the nozzle and tube being adjustable one with respect to the other in controlling discharge of steam therebetween, an independently adjustable valve regulating the supply of steam to said nozzle, means simultaneously moving the last named valve and said needle valve in controlling relative discharges of steam and oil through the nozzle and the tube, respectively, and adjustable means cooperating with the last named means to limit closing movement of said valves.

3. A burner of the class described comprising a casing having an enlarged mixing chamber at one end, an oil supply tube in the casing and having a contracted discharge end extending into said mixing chamber, said casing and tube collectively forming a steam chamber within the casing with a discharge extending outwardly around the discharge end of the tube, a nozzle adjustable onthe casing and encircling the discharge end of said tube and forming an annular steam discharge passage around said tube, a needle valve mounted in said tube controlling the discharge of fuel through the discharge end thereof, means for adjusting the needle valve into difierent positions in said tube, the casing having a port admitting steam to the steam chamber, a steam valve controlling said port, means for adjusting the steam valve with respect to said needle valve, and means for simultaneous operation of said needle valve and steam valve.

4. A burner of the class described comprising a casing having an enlarged mixing chamber at one end, an oil supply tube in the casing and having a contracted discharge end extending into said mixing chamber, said casing and tube collectively forming a steam chamber within the easing with a discharge extending outwardly around the discharge end of the tube, a nozzle adjustable on thecas ng and encircling the discharge end of said tube andforming an annular steam discharge passage around said tube, a needle valve mounted in said tube controlling the discharge of fuel through the discharge end thereof, means for adjusting the needle valve into different positions in said tube, the casing having a port admitting steam to the steam chamber, a steam valve controlling said port, means for adjusting the steam valve with respect to said needle valve, means for simultaneous operation of said needle valve and steam valve, and means checking movement of the last named means in moving both of the valves in the closing direction.

5. A burner of the class described comprising a casing, two tubes detachable with respect to the casing, one tube comprising a fuel oil supply tube, a needle valve controlling thedischarge of oil through one end of said oil supply tube, a nozzle encircling the discharge end of the oil tube, means admitting steam around said oil tube and into said nozzle, a steam valve in the other of said tubes and said means and controlling supply of steam to said nozzle, a control and operating unit independent of and arranged in spaced relation to both of said tubes, said unit having independently adjustable screws in operative engagement with said valves, and an automatically actuated member for simultaneously actuating said screws and said valves in controlling supply of fuel oil and steam to the burner.

6. A burner of the class described comprising a casing, two tubes detachable with respect to the casing, one tube comprising a fuel oil supply tube, a needle valve controlling the discharge of oil through one end of said oil supply tube, a nozzle encircling the discharge end of the oil tube, means admitting steam around said 011 tube and into said nozzle, a steam valve in the other of said tubes and said means and controlling supply of steam to said nozzle, a control and operating unit independent of and arranged in spaced relation to both of said tubes, said unit having independently adjustable screws in operative engagement with said valves, an automatically actuated member for simultaneously actuating said screws and said valves in controlling supply of fuel oil and steam to the burner, adjustable means cooperating with the steam valve controlling opening movement thereof, and means adjustably supporting the adjustment screw controlling operation of said steam valve.

7. An oil burner of the class described comprising a casing having a cylindrical portion forming a large mixing chamber, a tubular part centrally of the casing, said part having an end portion extending into said chamber and an enlarged' bore in the other end portion thereof, an oil supply tube mounted in said tubular part of the casing, a needle valve arranged in and movable longitudinally of said tube, the casing having a steam chamber formed in said enlarged bore and around said tube, the casing having a radial passage extending from said steam chamber, a valve bore crossing said passage outwardly of the steam chamber, another tube coupled with the casing and communicating with said valve bore, a steam valve movable arranged in said valve bore and last named tube and controlling supply of steam to said steam chamber, a nozzle adjustably supported on the tubular portion of said casing to control the discharge of steam around said first named tube, each of said valves having tensional means supporting the same in open position, independent adjustable means limiting opening movement of said valves, and a single operating unit controlling simultaneous closing movement of the oil and steam valves in controlling and regulating the operation of the burner.

8. An oil bumer of the class described comprising a casing having a cylindrical portion forming a large mixing chamber, a tubular part centrally of the casing, said part having an end portion extending into said chamber and an en larged bore in the other end portion thereof, an oil supply tube mounted in said tubular part of the casing, a needle valve arranged in and movable longitudinally of said tube, the casing having a steam chamber formed in said enlarged bore and around said tube, the casing having a radial passage extending from said steam chamber, a valve bore crossing said passage outwardly of the steam chamber, another tube coupled with the casing and communicating with said valve bore,

a steam valve movably arranged in said valve bore and last named tube and controlling supply of steam to said steam chamber, a nozzle adjustably supported on the tubular portion of said casing to control the discharge of steam around said first named tube, each of said valves having tensional means supporting the same in open position, independent adjustable means limiting opening movement of said valves, a single operating 'unit controlling simultaneous closing movement of the oil and steam valves in controlling and regulating the operation of the burner, and independently adjustable means in said unit controlling the relationship of said valves one with respect to the other.

9. In an oil burner of the type in which fuel oil is atomized by steam, an oil discharge valve, a steam discharge valve, a nozzle from the discharge end of which oil and steam are directed into the combustion chamber of the burner, an automatic control unit for simultaneously adjusting both of said valves in increasing and decreasing the supply of oil and steam to the discharge end of said nozzle and in automatically shutting off the burner, said unit comprising a movable member, an adjustable screw in said member operatively engaging the oil valve, an automatically actuated element in constant engagement with said member to control the position of the oil valve, and a part in operative engagement with said member and cooperating with the steam valve to actuate said valve in predetermined movements imparted to said member by said automatically actuated element.

, ROBERT MAHLER. 

